The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-06
Mrs. Lanstry's Success:

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK. Nov Sit Is a curious fact that
of the thousands who annually flock to lay their
tribute of admiration and their ST. so at the feet
of Mrs. Langtry in New York. not per cent.
have succeeded in truly Analysing her continued
popularity. Ask any one of dozen people you
may meet during the day or evening, and it is
almost a safe bet that their replies will
spond within the sixteenth of an inch. They will
tell you three parts of her drawing power con-
sist of the fascination which her beauty has for
men, and one part in her recently developed his
trionic talent.
Those who tell you wrong. If they do
not live in New York the error is natural and
pardon able but in New York it is inexcusabe.
Here is her home and here she appears the
woman quite as prominently as the actress. Her
life is no mystery to her neiRhbors, and the true
key TO her wearing quality" is her success with
women. In face of the notorious feminine jea-
ousy of personal beauty in their own sex-except
such as they may find in the mirror-this asser-
ton may seem absurd. But it is true, neverthe-
less.
Follow Mrs Langtry on an afternoons shop
ping tour and see if am not right
She enters fashionable milliners on Fifth
avenue (she gets ali her hats at one place. Her
carriage, with the awfully pompous English
coachman the box ana the awfully dininu-
tive but equally dienified and bebuttoned foot
man at the door, stands at the curb. The half
dozen women OF fashion in the place glance
passes among them and to attendant says in
a conversational tone:
..Tsll Miss - that Mrs. Lanetry is here.
please"
This lady appears and is greeted with a cor
diality almost like that of sister. But no gush.
Then the work Of choosing two three oecom-
ing hats begins No Impotence no disgust no
hauteur is visible. With skill which is pecn-
liarly her own she will succeed. before leaving
the store. in getting the frank opinion OF every
ing decision.
This is all done in the most f-hand and polite
manner possible as though she should say:
Now, are here on common ground and
know each others weaknesses In the matter OF
personal adornment OF course We are not
ouainted, but it's all informal, don't you know
just like being on shipboard-so tell me the
truth"
OF course this isn't what she says with her
tongue, but with her manner. With mono
syllable appeal she draws out each without ap-
parently intending to do anything of the sort
When she has finished she sits comfortably
down upon a lounge and has nice little five
minute conversation with the head OF the con-
Then with smile she re-enters her carriage
and is gone and every lady in the place, includ-
ing the employees goes home and declares at din
ner that Mrs Langtry is the most charming
woman she has ever met, despite the scandal
mongerS.
And then, you know. each woman feels that
she had a hand in the purchase Of those hats.
and she insists on going to the theater the very
next evening to see if Langtry wears one of
them.
The programme and this effect is reproduced
at the Lily's dress maker's. at her shoemaker's
and at ali her shopping points-and nearly all
her shopping is done in New York nowadays.
Her secret is this: She appreciates fully her
own beauty and all that it is worth. and will
freely discuss il in seeking garments which set
it off-but this she does in such a confidential.
yet frank manner TO disarm an enemy at one
stroke.
An illustration of this occurred within few
feet of me the other day:
do Won know" said Mrs Langtry, f'why
some of my photographs in profile are pretty
while others are not7 Well, will solve the rid
die for you. Millais, the painter, was frank
enough to tell me in London that while one
side of my face was beautiful the other, he
thought narrowly escaped being ugly. I
pose other people have thought SO, too. but they
never told me-
1t isn't every pretty woman who Is pretty
enough to talk that way. G. H. FLEMING.